Orange County Church Bus Accident Injures 20 Children

Twenty junior high-aged children suffered injuries in a bus accident in Lake Forest after the bus hit a power pole in a parking lot.

According to an Associated Press news report, officials said the low-speed bus crash occurred the morning of August 10, 2015 near Saddleback Church in Lake Forest.

The kids were treated at the scene for injuries including sore shoulders and busted lips.

None of the injuries were described as life threatening. Officials said there were no seatbelts on the bus, which was carrying 46 people including children around 12 or 13 years old, chaperones and the driver.

Investigators are in the process of interviewing the driver as they try to determine the cause of the crash.

It is indeed fortunate that none of the children suffered critical or life-threatening injuries. We wish all those who were injured the very best for a quick and full recovery.

What Caused This Bus Crash?

Based on this news report, it appears that the bus struck the light pole in the parking lot at 10 mph.

Even though this accident occurred at a low speed, it could have resulted in broken bones and severe strains and sprains that could take a long time to fully heal.

We trust officials are looking into what caused the incident. There are several unanswered questions here.

Why did the driver lose control of the church bus? Was he inattentive? Was he distracted by a cell phone or by a bus passenger? Was there some type of defect or malfunction in the bus? Was the driver impaired or driving under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs?

Liability Issues

In such cases, injured victims can seek compensation for damages including medical expenses, hospitalization, rehabilitation, pain and suffering and emotional distress.

In this particular case, the bus driver and his or her employer could be held liable. Injured victims would also be well advised to contact an experienced Orange County personal injury lawyer who will stay abreast of the official investigation and ensure that the negligent parties are held liable.

The best personal injury law firms will always offer a free consultation and comprehensive case evaluation to injured victims and their families.